The concrete in this case is shotcrete which is a type of concrete that is relatively dry with additives. It is compacted by the force of the high pressure spray. Concrete swimming pool builders use a similar kind of concrete that is designed for spraying.

@@Domeshells Thanks for the quick reply. BR

As long as there aren't people trying to take advantage by shoddy work and cutting corners 🙏..not meaning to be 'punny'

Thank you. Fixed.

Hi Guys, You can buy e-manuals and online video courses here domeacademy.education Please just wait 24hrs as we are in process of fixing a bug on the site.

At our hands-on workshops for a 3.0m diameter dome (no mold method) we usually have 7-8 people and we build the complete structure from a pre-finished slab in 6 days (does not include touch ups and painting. At the air form workshop we achieve the same level in 5 days. If we were building ourselves it would require 4 people over the same time.

@@Domeshells Thanks for the reply! I also asked in one of your other videos on a workshop. What does "pre-finished slab" mean? I hope you don't mind the questions. Our organization's corporate social responsibility arm is looking into making low cost hardy homes for poorer areas and this is part of the research.

@@Norbingel Dont mind at all. Pre-finished slab means that we have the concrete slab down already when we start the workshop so that it is cured before we work on it. The above video is quite old. Since then we have refined our methods. We are currently working with NGO's to deliver different scaled packages that include certain equipment, training and technology transfer based on the production of 1-2 units a week. We are very interested to assist anywhere in the world to help people build their own strong, safe shelter. Our method uses the least amount of materials for the biggest benefit in terms of comfort, safety, longevity and sustainability. We are in process of rearranging our website and have just uploaded a second online video workshop. This one is about using an air form. For high volume the most efficient system is to use a rigid mould

@@Domeshells Air form is very likely out of the question anyway. The locations we are targeting are faraway, isolate, hard to reach areas where resources aren't easy to come by. I have not even been able to locate any basalt rebar in the whole (3rd world) country and it would probably be too expensive anyway. If the program is to be sustainable, all the resources must be something the target local population can afford and make on their own. We're there to provide the initial demo house and training but we're a very small organization (a non-traditional, inclusive school) that can't afford any more than that so we're looking into various possibilities to see which suits best. I look forward to seeing all the new content you have and will check your website out! Thank you again!

@@Norbingel is bamboo available in those locations or any other kind of flexible cane like material. If so then those materials can be used to fabricate a cage of the structure and then all you need is sand, cement and chicken wire. This is THE most simple system that can be adapted to what is available locally.

They are basalt fibre rebars spaced at 150mm vertical and horizontal

@@Domeshells wow thanks for the response. Unfortunately, I dont think we have basalt rebars in our country. Even then, that's a lot of rebars. What thickness? And do you just do the whole dome first then cut out the parts where the doors and windows go after?

Hi LInda, They are so beautiful inside, they have a very still comforting energy. Now, how do we help you get one?

Hi, WE are not familiar with US codes however, our domes are capable for any climate zone. The insulation layers can be designed to suite any climate zone, hot or cold. WE have built all over Australia where it gets very hot and humid and in some regions can freeze. It doesn't get as cold here as NY except in the mountains but we know we would meet code for any climate Zone in Aus. When a dome has ventilation at the apex it completely removes hot moist air and as long as the dome is not partitioned too much, taking away the feeling of the dome shape, none of our domes suffer from mold.

@@DomeshellsThank you. You have a great business. I wish I lived in Australia. I'd come and work for you!

@@Domeshells no, I want to see it work in florida where we are getting Ct 3,4 and 5 hurricane as normal anymore.

@@JohnSmith-uy7sv we would love to help the people in those devastated areas and anyone else who would like to know they are safe and secure no matter what extreme comes along. We need to form relationships with local builders there. We can help train and educate. For anyone wanting to learn how we build thin concrete dome shell structures, Go to: www.domeacademy.education There is more video training material in production directed to professional builders.

@@Domeshells How do the hold up to fire? I am on the west coast of the US in a fire zone.

🌹🌿 Great point! Any bamboo used in cement, will absorb the moisture in the concrete, causing the bamboo to expand and crack the concrete.

@me1059 Thank u for adding more substance!

You don't know what you are talking about. It's been done. Over and over. I hate when people speak and their experience is from their imagination.

@@Mgb-uo8mq Yes, tofu drag constructions have been done and are being done all the time in China. It doesn't make them strong. So, get some brains before accusing people.

Very cool

The bamboo must be treated immediately after it is harvested. There are a number of ways it can be done and in Asian/tropical countries the perfect type of treated and split bamboo can be purchased all over. Our manual goes through a simple process of how we harvested the bamboo, treated the bamboo, split the bamboo and cured the bamboo before we used it. The bamboo provides a frame for wrapping as many layers of GAL chicken wire mesh.. The mesh forms an extremely strong mesh reinforced, monolithic shell structure that is actually doing all the structural work. However, Bamboo is known to perform quite well as reinforcement for concrete when used in the right way.

So far 7.0m diameter domes have been successfully (and relatively easily) constructed without an airform. We haven't tested the limits however, theoretically, a dome of any diameter could be constructed in the same way.

A dome can be infinitely large and doesn't require internal support when it's completed but does as it's being constructed. The limitation would be in making the supporting structure for construction

Where can we get the book

@@huxmetalworks7371 apologies for the delay in responding. go here www.domeacademy.education

@@Mgb-uo8mq correct although in theory an air-form can be any size

Hello Mrs G, My sincere apologies for such a delay in responding. Scoria or pumice can also be used in place of perlite. Any material that makes a lightweight concrete can work. The thickness that you apply depends on the insulation you want to achieve. We have installed electrical conduit within the shell concrete but it is better to run around the structural shell and have it covered by the thermal layer. Plumbing can be installed like any slab on ground house. Drainage can go through the floor or through the side of the wall. Same with the plumbing. Get in touch with us for a referral to a US supplier near you. I believe having at least some kind of ventilation at the apex is important to allow stale air to escape. We usually install a skylight. The e-manuals show howto make one. I strongly suggest to start with a 3.0m diameter first. I wish you the best.

Hi Carol, Chris Brown here. I know exactly what you mean about learning hands on so I take that into account with the video courses and I make an effort to show the details. We are working on new video courses and I would like to run a workshop in the US. It may be possible next year as we are working on a plan to get Domeshells started in the US. I can see our systems would be highly beneficial in many parts of the US.

@@DreamDome That is such good news. I live in southern Missouri, which is tornado alley, where every type of extreme weather can occur. It would be awesome to build a small dome home that I could call my own. I very much admire what you have achieved Mr. Brown. Much more so because you are also a gentleman. Can't wait to attend your dome building workshop in the U.S. Cheers!

We haven't built in the Philippines. Others and one of our students has built in Indonesia. What have you got in mind?

Thank you. The people who need the most are the most important to us. The method used in the video can also be adapted to use bamboo which I assume is plentiful in your part of the world. On our website there is a guide for building domes like this using bamboo, GAL mesh and cement render. 7.0m domes have been built using this method that have survived earthquakes. www.domeshells.com.au/bamboo-dome-house-construction/

Our system is not specifically integrated into the NCC. Our engineers have been designing basalt reinforced shell structures for several years and we have a 20 history of designing and building dome shaped structures including FRP sandwich panel systems, GRC/foam sandwich panel systems and high strength thin concrete shell structures.. We provide a structurally certified set of drawings for every project.

Update - we have recently been required to produce a Performance Solution for a project in Victoria. We are in process of footings and slab now.

Not with air crete. We fabricate a high-strength basalt fiber-reinforced concrete shell with a layer of lightweight concrete over that for insulation.

​@@DomeshellsBasalt-fiber?

@@warlockpaladin2261 Yup, basalt fibre. Melt down basalt rock, extrude a fibre (2 x tensile strength of steel. Can be manufactured in all the same type of products as fibreglass

@@DreamDome I thought it was synthetic basalt you were talking about... wasn't sure if that had been perfected for commercial scale yet or not. Even so, what's the price tag of harvesting, melting down, and extruding basalt?

@@warlockpaladin2261 apparently, some basalt rock is better than others, but I believe most of the basalt fibre is from mining tailings where the rock has already been crushed. Requires about 1300 to 1400 degrees to become molten rock to extrude a very fine and soft fibre but with 2 x tensile strength of steel. To form reinforcing bar, rovings are pultruded through resin to form a deformed bar that looks like steel but is only quarter the weight. The manufacturing process is cleaner than glass fibre and steel. Costs more than steel to buy but is much easier to work with

Yes, it is possible. The platform should be a concrete platform as the dome is a concrete shell structure.

@@Domeshells Thanks so much, good to know! Have a good one.

The dome in the video is only 2.4m across the floor slab. At the widest point it is 3.0m. On our website there are images of a 3.0m diameter at the floor and 3.0m at the widest point. The example shows a desk and day bed inside. It,s a more practical and useful size.

When I build the domes only 7 mtrs of diameter.

That one is only 2.4 at the floor level and 3.0m at the widest point

What is a standard build? Where are you located? They can be built for similar costs to average building costs (subject to conditions)

Hello Kicking Horse. Yes they can be covered with earth. In fact we will be building a number of earth covered homes later in the year. in Australia. The structural design of the shell is designed according to the soil type and depth of soil cover.

The main stream narrative? We agree. its a hoax. back when we made this video, we also believed the narrative. We have since educated ourselves. To be clear, from our understanding, our star, the sun and other galactic energies have a much more profound influence on our climate. We also believe that our planet is close to a major cyclical event as in earth change, polar reversal or major shift. We are assuming you will understand. Domeshells current method of building domes, we believe, is the simplest. It utilizes easy available materials and can be utilized by anyone. In fact the original intent of Domeshells was to develop the simplest system to enable people anywhere to build their own strong safe home or shelter. Very soon we are coming out with a comprehensive on line video workshop manual to help people all over the world. Survival may soon be the most important issue for every human being on earth.

The small one costs about $20K for us to build in our yard. An 8.0m (50m2) is around $95K. Material cost is about 35%-40% if you want to DIY. Generally, you will need council approval but no problem, we can do all the design and engineering that council will need. get in touch from the website if you want to get more info.

I'm glad you like it

Thanks Jake. This has been a long time coming. I am looking forward to publishing a tonne of stuff over the coming months.

Yes they are!

Hi Nic. In our workshops we apply by hand trowel and also spray on. Obviously faster to spray. At our next workshops we will introduce the use of an air-form which will cut about 35% of the labor out of the most basic mould-less method that we have taught previously. Larger domes we spray shotcrete. We can cover an 8.0m diameter dome in a day.

Any type of windows and screens can be installed but, depending on the Bush Fire Attack Level rating required, the doors and windows need to meet the code. If you know the BAL rating you can inquire with a window maker nearby for windows that comply with your relevant BAL rating. In higher rated areas screens and or shutters may be required. Our standard configurations are installed with aluminum windows with screens.

Thank you! Cheers!

The render may preserve the bamboo as long as it does not get wet or bugs eat the bamboo. Generally the bamboo should be treated against insect attack. The preferred strategy is to use the bamboo for the frame but rely on the reinforcing of the mesh so that even if the bamboo was damaged in any way there is sufficient mesh matrix to maintain its structural integrity

@@DreamDome use foam cement next time and the bugs wont eat the boo

@@d.e303-anewlowcosthomebuil7 True, however foam cement requires special tools. In an area where you're using bamboo as a construction material you may not be privy to such materials or even electricity.